Muzzy Carayol - Nottingham Forest's attacking arsenal is better than last season

Muzzy Carayol says the attacking freedom Mark Warburton wants his Reds players to perform with will only enhance their attacking threat this season - and when they come up against Middlesbrough's expensively assembled front line tomorrow

Muzzy Carayol believes Nottingham Forest’s summer transfer business – and the freedom given to them by Mark Warburton – can give them one of the most potent attacking arsenals in the Championship.

The winger, who will hope for the chance to face his former side, Middlesbrough, this weekend, is convinced the Reds have more firepower than they did last season, when they were among the top scorers in the division for much of the campaign.

Forest saw Britt Assombalonga move to Boro for £15m in the summer, but have added Daryl Murphy, Jason Cummings, Barrie McKay and Kieran Dowell to their options in the final third.

And that, combined with the licence given to them by manager Warburton to play with freedom, has Carayol believing Forest will not go short of goals this season – and not when they go toe-to-toe with one of the most expensively assembled forward lines outside of the top flight.

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“I do think we have more,” said Carayol, when asked about Forest’s attacking threat. “A lot of it also comes from the style of play. Lots of us have been given the licence to play, which is why you are seeing a lot more fluid attacking play and a lot of chances being created.

Mustapha Carayol

“I think he is a manager who wants you to enjoy the game. And when you enjoy playing, you do produce your best football.

“He gives me the freedom to go out and play and I like that in a manager. As a footballer, you do not want to be restricted.

“He does not put any limit on our creativity. He just tells us to go out there and play. A lot of the time, you do need that backing from the manager – for him to tell you that he does not mind you making a mistake.

“You can see that players were expressing themselves on Tuesday and all we were missing at Barnsley was a few goals. I think the boys are enjoying it; training is really good and I am sure we will get a lot of positive results this season.”

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And Carayol has seen enough of Murphy to believe he can fill the scoring void left by his close friend Assombalonga.

“I can see him getting a lot of goals. He is proven in this league, I have played against him many times, during his time at Ipswich,” said Carayol. “He is a proven goal scorer in this league and, if we supply chances, he will score a lot of goals.

Daryl Murphy scored his first goal for Forest at Brentford (Image: Dan Westwell)

“You do like to deliver crosses for players like him. And do not underestimate his feet. You would be surprised at how good he is on the ball. His hold up play is really good and he can turn and take people on.

“His aerial presence is a massive threat and I hope we can create a lot of chances for him.”